Review: Opel Astra G ( 1998 – 2009 )

Opel Astra G. Much like with damp, no matter what you do, you can’t get rid of it. And you live with it for over 20 years and you know you won’t get rid of it anytime soon. The same goes for the Opel Astra G, one of the most requested cars by the two readers of this internet trash can.

And it’s easy to see why so many people (all 2 of them readers) asked for an article about the Opel Astra G / Vauxhall Astra G. On one hand, it’s an almost car, but on the other hand, it’s a more versatile car than Bear Grylls.

The point is, there’s a car for every possible and impossible type of driver. If you’ve just got your license and only have 500 euros in your pocket, the Opel Astra G coupe is waiting for you. If you only have 50 euros on your salary and 48 years in your pocket, the Opel Astra G saloon is waiting for you. If you don’t have a salary and live off your own garden plants and animals, then the Opel Astra G estate is waiting for you. And if you’re a tradesman just starting out, the Opel Astra G Van is waiting for you. Want a convertible but can’t afford a convertible? Opel Astra G Convertible. Basically, the Vauxhall Astra G should be the only car available in the whole world. There’s no job it can’t do. Including off-roading, because at the price you don’t care if you hit a boulder or a stump.

Like the Corsa C, the Vauxhall Astra G has quickly established a reputation as a cheap, simple, and relatively reliable car. Yes, it’s not the most comfortable or well-equipped car possible, but either way, you go by the logic “500 euros I pay, 500 euros I get” and that helps the Astra still live on the streets of the Europe. As proof that it was produced long after the Golf 4 and Focus I, the rival cars at launch, were already out of production. Opel saw that the G was selling like hot cakes or sleazy drunk text messages and decided to produce it alongside the Opel Astra H, just under the name Opel Astra Classic. Sort of like Opel’s Skoda Octavia Tour. And people bought them. Because where there are cheap and simple cars, there are hordes of buyers.

Opel Astra G Engines

Petrol

• 1.2 MPI of 65 and 75 horsepower – An engine stolen from the Corsa C that would do well to stay in the Corsa C. It works on the Astra G too, but it’s more challenged than an employee on minimum wage. Along with the 1.4 petrol, the TwinPort version has a bit of a reliability situation, but overall it’s cheaper than walking.
• 1.4 MPI of 90 horsepower – Like the 1.2 petrol, the TwinPort version has a slight reliability issue. But at least at 90 horsepower, it moves decently even for those with lesser expectations in life. It’s probably the most balanced engine for beginners or those who get behind the wheel out of necessity, not pleasure.
• 1.6 MPI of 75, 85, and 101 horsepower – Asking me to choose between 1.6 and 1.4 is like asking me to choose between Jessica Alba and Christina Aguilera. They were pretty good in the 2000s, they’re pretty good now but they’re starting to show their age. A yes, of all of them, I recommend the 101 horsepower 1.6 EcoTec petrol which was also fitted to the Astra H. But only if you stack up on engine oil.
• 1.8 MPI of 116 and 125 horsepower – we’re already talking about something else. We’re getting out of Astra G compact, sedan, or estate territory and into Bertone and Cabrio territory. Fabulous engine, which also made a splash on the Vectra B and Vectra C and has proven its reliability to the full. No wonder it’s a popular engine on the Bertone.
• 2.0 MPI of 136 horsepower – Another very rare engine in the Astra G but popular in the Bertone, Calibra, and Vectra. It has a common concern with the 1.8 petrol, but overall it’s a solid engine and on this occasion, I wish you good luck finding an Opel Astra G 2.0 petrol aspirated.
• 2.0 Turbo of 200 horsepower – You’d think a 2.0 Turbo from Opel in the 2000s would be a disaster, and you’d be wrong. You’d be as wrong because the legendary Z20LET was a reliable, testosterone-filled engine. Mind you, it has nothing to do with the 2.0 Turbo on the Opel Zafira. 
• 2.2 MPI of 147 horsepower – Good luck finding one on the Opel Astra G. Plus it’s not that reliable. And for 11 extra horses over the 2.0 you pay 4 times on tax and who knows how much insurance.

Diesel

• 1.7 TD with 68 horsepower – No. Although come to think of it, the Opel Astra G Caravan 1.7 TD is sort of the VW Transporter T4 of the wagons. Slow, reliable, hard-working. Still, I’d put another 50 euros on it and go to the next level.
• 1.7 CDTI of 75 and 80 horsepower – This is where the Isuzu 1.7 CDTI legend begins. A van engine, made to last, last, last, last. In reliability and complexity, it’s up there with VW’s 1.9 TDI and Toyota’s 2.0 D-4D.
• 2.0 DI of 82 horsepower – A 2.0 diesel, no turo, released in the fall of 1400. If you have this engine you should be interested in the bike lanes in your town, because you’ll be forced to ride there too.
• 2.0 DTI of 101 horsepower  – Same as the 1.7 DTI / CDTI, only marginally larger. Probably the most balanced diesel engine in the Opel Astra G, but good luck finding one.
• 2.2 DTI of 125 horsepower   – 4 times the tax of the 2.0 DTI, injection pump issues, bolt seal burns like it’s the backdrop for Hannah Montana parts, turbo and clutch gives up the spirit prematurely. Do yourself a favor and buy a 2.0 DTI.

Opel Astra G Reliability Issues

• Petrol engines need to strictly adhere to the change interval for the timing and water pump, otherwise, it sucks. Take and check when the distribution was last replaced and follow the schedule closely. Besides that, there are general ECU, airflow meter, and coil packs issues, but nothing that will bankrupt you.
• The 1.2 and 1.4 patrols need to have the cylinder head bolts changed so you don’t run out of engine. The operation costs 5 pounds and a bottle of Cognac, so don’t be cheap. Or bald, as the Astra G was and is popular with the girls.
• I must mention that the Opel Astra G hatchback is a car famous for its poor rear visibility. The fact that the trunk is a little bit out of the body and not in the continuation of the rear window as in a modern hatchback, makes you never know where the end of the car is. An issue that the Dacia Logan II was going to bring back, except that in the Logan the boot is dozens of meters long and there it is even worse.
• The air conditioning sometimes works, sometimes not. That’s if you get a model that has one.
• The Opel Astra G is a cheap car to buy so many have bought them and completely forgotten about maintenance. You really need to check the car “bumper to bumper” before buying, because many of them are just wheelbarrows with windows.

Opel Astra G Verdict

I don’t think we’re talking about Vauxhall Astra G enthusiasts. But we can talk about people who are either looking for their first car or have a budget that doesn’t exceed 500 euros. And comically, in the 500-1000 euro category, it’s very hard to beat the Astra G. Yes, it’s a poor car in terms of features and comfort, but if you want cheap transportation, the Astra G is more than decent. And because they made the decision to go with the Astra Classic all the way back to 2009 means you’ll always find parts. I went on Facebook Marketplace and autotrader and typed in “Opel Astra G”. I know, a typical buyer would write “this g”. The first result was a 2001 Astra G 1.6 petrol 105 horsepower with air conditioning, electric windows, and steering wheel controls. Price? 750 euros. Worth it? Definitely worth it. Hotel? Trivago.

What engines do I recommend? Petrols are somewhere between 1.4 MPI and 1.6 MPI, and diesels between 1.7 DTI and 2.0 DTI.